Published: 27 Jul 2026
The truth will out;
Thursday evening came and went, as did David’s visit to the house. Fortunately both Biff and Grady were conveniently absent during David’s visit and Lewis was somewhere with his mate Tug Skinner. At that time Biff had taken a couple of days away from his work as he had some business to attend to down the coast. When questioned by Grady, Biff’s reason being it wasn’t worth the talking only something to do with Ron’s half sister.
The following Monday finds most things back to normal, Biff has returned from his little coastal trip and Grady is working on Harry Black’s old farm unit, held together, as in the words of Alfred Deed, with fencing wire, hope and a prayer. If there was anything that could be suggested abnormal it is Karen’s attitude as she appeared a little sharper than usual, it could be considered even surly. Grady asides Karen’s mood believing it to be to do with David’s visit and his insistence she use the house as collateral to obtain an extended bank loan, or possibly it is that time in life that all women must endure.
It was also the first week of the new football season with the local team going down to what was considered the northern league’s weakest member. There is future hope with a new arrival and recruit to town coming from a much stronger southern league but because of a complicated contractual problem, he couldn’t start playing until the third game of the season. Grady had been reapproached to play but like Biff he was adamant his football days were at an end, although he still wished to remain in the cricket team and attend the football team’s weekend gatherings.
The Saturday night’s drinking sessions had also changed towards the renegade players. No longer part of the football team both Biff and Grady felt somewhat ostracised, although the attitude change was subtle being more felt than given, even so mates are mates not matter what and they all had grown up together from toddlers to adulthood.
On the evening of the team’s second loss it is considered time to introduce Stephen Cronk, the new recruit to the team. Cronk is a likeable young man with a happy disposition while his frame is what many considered as nuggety, topped with a mullet of blond hair hanging low on his shoulders and impressive dirty blond eyebrows framing the deepest of blue eyes possible.
The introduction was Coach Laurie Tuddenham’s idea, with the introduction came certainty both Biff and Grady would attend the bar on that night. Tuddenham’s plan being after meeting Stephen Cronk the lads may have second thoughts about playing. If they did agree then coach has a further problem being with Cronk joining the team there would be a position for one replacement brought about by the demise of Tubby Blake. If both Grady and Biff were to agree, someone would need to be dropped from the list and to his detriment, that player happened to be Michael Brown as he had shown little enthusiasm during the already played game.
The boys arrived late, already the team was all but hypothetically mounting Stephen Cronk with the occasional drinker from the bar coming to congratulation his addition to the team.
“He’s a popular fellow,” Grady suggests as they approach their mates at the table.
“It appears so,” Biff agrees while spying Trish in the lady’s lounge having a rare night out with Roslyn Dobbins from drapery.
At Trish’s side is Adam in his pram happily playing with his little toes and giggling.
Instead of joining with him mates, Biff makes a detour to the ladies lounge.
Grady continues on to join with the group.
Biff approaches Trish;
Trish collects Adam sitting him on her lap, “say hello to daddy,” she says while gently waving the baby’s arms in Biff’s direction.
Little Adam sees Biff then commences to laugh.
Biff frowns as his eyes fall on Roslyn sitting close by.
“Brian don’t look so concerned, Roslyn knows you’re the father, in truth the entire town has probably guessed by now.”
“I was more thinking of you.”
“I’m okay with it.’
“Hello Roslyn,” Biff greets.
Roslyn gives a smile and gentle head nod as the crowd at the team table become rowdy.
“Do you want to hold Adam?”
Biff draws the young fellow into his arms while looking back at his mates gathered around their usual table.
“Go on,” Trish says.
“Go on, what?”
“You are dying to show Adam off to your mates.”
“Could I?’
“Why not, besides it may stop the chatter.”
“What if the ask about the father?”
“If you want to Brian then tell them, besides it’s about time they know the truth.”
Oddly it wasn’t fact that the entire town could name Adam’s father, true most knew of the child’s existence but the father’s name had been kept from knowledge. Many believed Rod Hawkins to be the child’s father as he departed town soon after Trish went down to her Aunt’s for the birth but as Rod and Trish only dated once during a rainy night with any thought of sex well dampened, especially when Rod parked behind Biff’s utility at the Tip-top café. Trish had become so upset seeing Biff’s car she wasn’t in the mood to agree to any thought Rod may have conjured. Beside by then she had missed her period while thinking the worse.
As Biff approaches the table all heads turn towards him.
It is Luke who is first to speak.
“Isn’t that Trish Baker’s kid?”
“In half Adam is,” Biff proudly answers.
No one appears to catch Biff’s wording;
“Cute little fellow,” Barry Jones suggests while thinking of his own newly born little girl.
“All babies look the same,” Brownie considers; “they are like noisy little bundles of fat.”
“Not all,” Barry disagrees, “you should see my little Leah, cute as a button she is.”
“Adam looks familiar,” Luke suggests.
All eyes turn towards the happy little face.
“Adam doesn’t look anything like Rod Hawkins,” Brownie discredits.
“Na;” Barry huffs; “that theory is well debunked besides as you suggest Adam’s not remotely like Rod Hawkins.”
“Then who is the father?” Luke questions.
Biff smiles proudly;”
“I’m his dad and I would like you all to meet little Adam Brian Bastian. I only wish Ron was alive to greet his grandson.”
“What!” Brownie gasps, “and we all thought you -,” Brownie quickly pulls back from furthering the comment.
‘Unlike you Mick, some of us do like women,’ Biff thinks but from self protection he remains mute on the matter.
“I better take Adam back to his mum, I think he needs changing,” Biff says.
Brownie appears confused and lost for words as the others look to each other with gathering surprise.
Biff returns Adam to Trish;
“How did the introduction go?” Trish asks.
“I’ve never seen so many surprised faces, especially Mick Brown.”
“Him, he’s a creep,” Roslyn sneers.
“Brian you do realise by morning what you just did will be all over town?”
“Does that worry you Trish?”
“Not at all.”
“Me either; I better go back and see what chatter I’ve created.”
“Good luck.”
It takes time for the conversation to move away from Biff as Adam’s father and back to what is expect of the new recruit, who appears to soak up the approbations like blotting paper on an ink spot. Eventually they become bored with football and return to their favourite subject being who is getting it and with whom. In time adulation can become stale and once at an end the new recruit Stephen Cronk approaches Biff.
“Brian, I believe I am replacing you?”
“It appears so Stephen.”
“I hear you were recently considered for the state side.”
“Considered yes but nothing came of it.”
“Even so from what I hear I’ll have to work twice as hard to come up to your standard and when you and Grady played it is said it was as if you could think to each other.”
Brownie stands, “drinks everyone?”
There is agreement and Brownie goes to the bar. Nothing is more distasteful to Brownie then hearing Biff being praised.
“And you as well Grady,” Stephen Cronk says realising he was only addressing Biff.
“Leave me out of it, I wasn’t all that good.”
“Don’t talk crap Greedy you were as good as your mate, why do you think we have gone from average last season to feather dusters this year,” Wayne Nelson suggests.
Brownie returns with two jugs of beer, he heard Nelson’s comment as he returned and is smarting from it.
“Wasn’t my four points enough for you lot?” Brownie says.
“Not when we lost by twenty-six,” Wayne Nelson discredits.
“We all know why you gave up; don’t we Biff?” Brownie suggests and places down the jugs.
Biff’s eyes narrow to slits, his top lip is quivering;
“One day Mick.”
“One day what Biff?”
Biff stands tall from the table;
“Do you want to come out side and repeat what you said?”
It is more than obvious Brownie doesn’t wish to stand against Biff and before the tiff can escalate into a bar brawl Barry Jones, ever the peacemaker, brings the tone to account.
“Come on both you kiss and make up; we are here for a good time not to be entertained by some prize fight.”
The coward in Brownie reacts;
“Peace Biff?”
“A truce at best Mick,” Biff calmly replies.
Luke’s waggish wit adds character to the situation, “what about the makeup kiss?”
Everyone laughs and for now animosity is put aside.
Lost in the heat of the moment they fail to see Bruce Menzies at the bar and he is in conversation with David. It is Biff who is first to spy Menzies and at the appropriate moment he gives Grady a soft jab in the ribs;
“Menzies is chatting with your father.”
“Yea I didn’t know they were acquainted, can you trust him not to say anything?”
“I don’t rightly know as the Menzies I knew was a cheeky brat in middle primary school; who can tell what he grew into.”
David appears most interested in whatever Menzies has to express, occasionally David would glance across towards Grady.
As quick as the conversation commenced it ended with David collecting a large shandy from the bar, taking it to his new woman seated alone in the ladies lounge. On his return he speaks for a moment with Trish, who is gathering her things ready to depart. David gives Adam a weak smile and returns to his shire mates at the bar.
“What do you think that was about?” Biff asks.
“Don’t know, all I can say, let’s hope it doesn’t come back and bite us on the arse.”
The boys arrive home a little after eleven entering into a heated row between Lewis and Karen. Not wishing to be part of it Biff quickly moves aside. The bickering had been going on since that Thursday visit from David, leaving Karen with little to no control over her youngest son. It appeared Lewis had been out drinking with his mate Tug, arriving home somewhat intoxicate a short while before the boys, then over his excessive drinking and disrespect Karen broke free with her demands, if he was to remain living at home then Lewis would need to abide by a few simple rules.
“Then I’ll go live with dad!” was clearly heard as the boys entered at the tail end of the disagreement.
“Then go – go on, go live with your father and see how long that will last.”
Lewis storms out of the room;
Karen goes to the lounge and fixes a large gin and tonic;
Biff gives Grady a nod and with better judgement leaves the situation to Grady.
Karen slumps into the sofa, spilling a little onto the fabric, she clears it away with her hand;
“Well that’s it,” she softly says.
“Are you alright mum?”
“I’ve had him Grady; he can go live with David and be rid of him.”
“It won’t last, I know as a fact dad doesn’t want Lewis living with him, especially with his fancy woman.”
‘Oh, I shouldn’t have said that.’ Grady thinks.
“Sorry mum.”
“That’s alright Grady, I know all about his affair; I’m well past caring what David gets up to.”
“Do you want to divorce dad?”
“For the sake of Robyn no but if David is to asks for a divorce I would agree.”
“This family,” Grady says.
“What do you mean by that?” Karen coolly questions.
“Only I am remembering the love between Biff and Ron and they were not only father and son but best mates. I was often jealous of their relationship, wishing Ron was my dad and not David.”
At that moment Lewis blusters back into the room carrying a bag;
“You want me out then I’m gone.”
“Lewis!” Grady calls after his brother.
“And fuck you too Grady,” Lewis shouts; he departs slamming the door behind.
Karen sighs, “Lewis has that in common with his father.”
“What would that be?”
“Slamming doors.”
Karen mixes a further gin and tonic, oddly she appears calm;
“As I said, Lewis will be back.”
“Possibly I won’t have him back.”
Karen appears to drift away from the room.
She is back on Green Hills station working as governess to the station children. The head stockman is David and Ron Bastian is the handyman, a striking figure of a man in his akubra hat and western gear, his moleskin trousers caressing his buttocks like a second skin. They were happy days without care without decision. Then she made the greatest mistake in her life, she married David. With the memories Karen’s stress appeared to dissolve, possibly it is the alcohol but what she is about to announce to Grady being influenced is preferable, so she mixed another gin and tonic and soon it’s effects removed all inhibitions and she is ready to proclaim her deepest secret.
“Mum, drinking won’t help?” Grady quietly warns.
“It isn’t any of your business Grady.”
“Sorry, I am concerned for you.”
“Don’t be, I have managed my life for all these years without any help and I don’t need any now.”
“If your okay, I’ll off to bed.” Grady hesitates as he doesn’t wish to leave Karen while she is stressed.
“Grady,” Karen softly says.
“Yes.”
“You said you often wished Ron was your father.”
“I did say that but without disrespect towards you.”
“Then I will tell you something.”
Grady listens with intent.
“There is a ninety-nine percent chance to a hundred that Ron was your father.”
“What!”
“What I’m trying to say, Ron was your father.”
Gary’s stories are about life for gay men in Australia’s past and present. Your emails to him are the only payment he receives. Email Gary to let him know you are reading: Conder 333 at Hotmail dot Com
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